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German troops marching to the polish boarder.

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1st September 1939 - Germany invades Poland.

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1st September 1939 - Germany invades Poland.

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Germany invades Poland and Britain gives Germany 48 hours to respond and leave, if not there will be a declaration of war between the two countries.

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Date: September 1, 1939.

Strategy:

Germany employed a new military tactic called Blitzkrieg ("lightning war"), which combined fast-moving and coordinated attacks using aircraft, tanks, and infantry.

Initial Attack:

The invasion began early in the morning with bombing raids on Polish cities and military targets.

Ground forces crossed the border shortly after, overwhelming Polish defenses.

Key Events:

September 3, 1939: In response to the invasion, Britain and France declared war on Germany, marking the official start of World War II.

Rapid Advance: German forces quickly captured key cities, including Warsaw, by the end of September.

Outcome:

Poland's Defeat: Poland was occupied by German and Soviet forces (after the USSR invaded from the east on September 17, 1939, as part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact).

Consequences: The invasion marked the beginning of widespread conflict in Europe, leading to the escalation of World War II.

This initial aggression set the stage for further German expansion across Europe and established the pattern of Blitzkrieg tactics that would characterize early German successes in the war.

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3rd September 1939 - Britain declares war on Germany.

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3rd September 1939 - Britain declares war on Germany.

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Britain and France declared war on Germany and its allies, two days after Germany invaded Poland.

On 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced via a BBC radio broadcast that the UK would fight against Nazi Germany.

It was the most destructive global conflict in history.

The war lasted for six years, millions of people lost their lives and it had a big impact on the world.

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British Declaration of War (audio and transcript of Chamberlain's speech)

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### Battle of Britain Overview

1. Timeframe: July to October 1940.

2. Participants:

- British Royal Air Force (RAF)

- German Luftwaffe (Air Force)

3. Objectives:

- Germany aimed to destroy the RAF and gain air superiority.

- This was crucial for a planned invasion of Britain, codenamed Operation Sea Lion.

4. Key Tactics:

- Radar: The British developed an effective radar system for early detection of enemy aircraft.

- Fighter Command: Led by Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, the RAF coordinated defense efforts.

- Diverse Aircraft: Key aircraft included the British Spitfire and Hurricane fighters.

5. Major Phases:

- Initial Attacks: Beginning with attacks on shipping and coastal defenses in July.

- Eagle Day (August 13, 1940): The Luftwaffe launched a large-scale attack intended to cripple the RAF.

- Shift to City Bombing: After failing to defeat the RAF, Germany shifted to bombing London and other cities (the Blitz) starting in September.

6. Key Events:

- Battle of Britain Day (September 15, 1940): A significant day of fighting, where the RAF repelled a large Luftwaffe attack, marking a turning point.

- Luftwaffe Losses: The German forces suffered heavy losses in aircraft and pilots.

7. Outcome:

- The RAF successfully defended against the Luftwaffe.

- Germany's failure to gain air superiority forced them to postpone and eventually abandon plans for an invasion of Britain.

8. Significance:

- Marked the first major defeat of Hitler's military forces.

- Boosted British morale and unified the nation.

- Established the RAF as a formidable force and demonstrated the importance of air power in modern warfare.

9. Aftermath:

- The Luftwaffe shifted its focus to the Blitz, targeting civilian areas, but failed to break British resolve.

- The battle laid the groundwork for Allied air strategies in subsequent campaigns.

The Battle of Britain remains a symbol of resistance and resilience in the face of adversity.

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1940

Apr - Jun: Germany invades Denmark and Norway.

May 10: Germany launches the Blitzkrieg against Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.

Jun 22: France surrenders to Germany.

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Jun 22: Operation Barbarossa; Germany invades the Soviet Union.

Dec 7: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor; the U.S. enters the war.

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Jun 4-7: Battle of Midway; a turning point in the Pacific.

Nov 8: Allied forces land in North Africa (Operation Torch).

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Jan 14-24: Casablanca Conference; Allies agree on "unconditional surrender" policy.

Jul 10: Allies invade Sicily.

Sep 3: Italy surrenders.

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Jun 6: D-Day; Allied invasion of Normandy.

Dec 16: Battle of the Bulge begins.

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Apr 30: Hitler commits suicide.

May 7: Germany surrenders (V-E Day).

Aug 6 & 9: U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Sep 2: Japan formally surrenders (V-J Day).

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On 8 May 1945, Prime Minister, Winston Churchill made an announcement on the radio at 3pm that the war in Europe had ended, after Germany's total defeat and surrender.

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Victory over Japan or Victory in the Pacific. The world was finally at peace after 6 years of fighting. World War II, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history, involved more than 50 nations and was fought on land, sea and air in nearly every part of the world, with the loss of 70-85 million lives

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September 2nd 1945 - Japan signs unconditional surrender.

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September 2nd 1945 - Japan signs unconditional surrender.

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This act officially ended the largest and most deadly conflict in human history.

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Invasion of Poland (1939): Germany invaded Poland on September 1, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

Fall of France (1940): Germany invaded and quickly conquered France in May and June, leading to the establishment of the Vichy regime.

Battle of Britain (1940): The German Luftwaffe launched a sustained bombing campaign against Britain, which ultimately failed to achieve its objectives.

Operation Barbarossa (1941): Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June, marking a significant turning point in the war as the Eastern Front opened.

Pearl Harbor (1941): Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, leading the United States to enter the war.

Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943): A crucial battle on the Eastern Front where Soviet forcesD-Day (1944): On June 6, Allied forces launched a massive invasion of Nazi-occupied France, landing on the beaches of Normandy.

Liberation of Concentration Camps (1944-1945): Allied forces liberated numerous concentration camps, revealing the full extent of the Holocaust.

Atomic Bombings (1945): The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, leading to Japan's surrender.

End of the War (1945): Germany surrendered on May 8 (V-E Day), and Japan surrendered on September 2 (V-J Day), officially ending World War II.

These events significantly shaped the course of the war and its aftermath, leading to major geopolitical changes and the establishment of the United Nations.